Upcoming Fall Festivals in Colorado

With the leaves already changing, another fun Colorado fall kicks off! The season runs from the Autumn Equinox on Tuesday, September 22nd, to Monday, December 21st, 2021, the day before the Winter Solstice.

Autumn is full of exciting festivals in Colorado, toasting an end to summer and welcoming the cooler fall weather. Aspens transition to shades of red and the beer gets darker. Rafts are traded for snow tubes and hiking boots for ski boots. It’s an exciting time in the Centennial State!

2021 Annual Colorado Fall Festivals

A slew of Colorado Oktoberfests kicked off at the end of August and run through mid-October. These are just a few of the libation-filled festivals to warm you up. There’s also the Great American Beer Fest, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival, and Denver International Wine Festival.

Festivals in September

Highlands Farmers Market

• Date: Sundays, June 6-September 26, 2021
• Address: Highland Square, 32nd Avenue, Denver
• Great farmer’s market with handcrafted goods and locally grown produce. Go hungry because there is plenty of homemade food for sale, fresh and ready to eat.

Colorado State Fair & Rodeo

• Date: Fri-Mon, August 27-September 7, 2021
• Address: Pueblo
• About: Widely popular eleven-day event with parades, live music, rodeos, carnival, livestock, horse show, and hundreds of vendors selling everything from Indian Tacos to handcrafted jewelry.

Telluride Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Mon, September 2-6, 2021
• Address: Telluride
• About: One of the top film festivals in the U.S, now in its 48th year.

Four Corners Folk Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 3-5, 2021
• Address: Pagosa Springs
• About: Highlights for the 25th annual Folk Fest include food vendors, a beer garden, live folk music, and kids’ entertainment. Many people camp at the event on Reservoir Hill or at a satellite spot, with campsites available for tents and RVs for a fee.

Four Corners Motorcycle Rally

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 3-5, 2021
• Address: Durango
• About: The annual Four Corners Motorcycle Rally features live bands, poker runs, Harley Davidson Giveaway, Indian Scout Giveaway, and festivities.

Keystone Oktoberfest

• Date: Sat, September 4, 2021
• Address: River Run Village, Keystone
• About: Keystone’s 9th annual Oktoberfest with beer and brats. Activities include free face painting, a bounce house, and the Edelweiss Polka Dancers.

Evergreen Summerfest

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 4-5, 2021
• Address: Evergreen
• About: More than 100 artists gather for this community fine arts and crafts festival, now in its 41st year. Summerfest kicks off Arts Alive Evergreen, a ten-day showcase on visual and performing arts.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

• Date: Sat-Mon, September 4-6, 2021
• Address: Denver
• About: 30th cultural celebration of visual, culinary, and performing arts since 1991.

Breckenridge Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival

• Date: Sat-Mon, September 4-6, 2021
• Address: Downtown Breckenridge
• About: Ranked as one of the top 200 festivals in the U.S. by Sunshine Artists, this fine arts fest offers free admission over Labor Day weekend.

A Taste of Colorado

• Date: Sat-Mon, September 4-6, 2021
• Address: Downtown Denver
• About: Free fest with five stages of live music, lots of great local food, over 200 arts & crafts booths, and carnival rides, now in its 38th year.

Ouray County Fair & Rodeo

• Date: Sun-Mon, September 5-6, 2021
• Address: Ridgway
• About: Two days of western heritage with a rodeo, parade, fair, and BBQ, held at the Ouray County 4H Events Center & Fairgrounds.

Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials

• Date: Wed-Sun, September 8-12, 2021
• Address: Meeker
• About: Five days of sheepdog herding competition held annually in September, celebrating its 33rd year.

Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 10-12, 2021
• Address: Estes Park
• About: Known as Scotfest, this three-day celebration, now in its 45th year, features large bagpipe marching bands, the Estes Tattoo, and the Longs Peak Concert. Highlights include live music, regional food, jousting tournaments, Highland dance, and local merchants.

Off-Grid Expo

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 10-12, 2021
• Address: Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Golden
• About: Annual event for outdoor enthusiasts to interact with and buy the latest gear related to off-grid living and activities.

Project Hopscotch

• Dates: Wed-Fri, September 15 – October 15, 2021
• Address: Lafayette
• About: This fall, Old Town Lafayette is kicking off the season with Project Hopscotch, a free, charitable 10-course hopscotch experience that benefits local art students.

Denver’s Mineral, Fossil, Gem, and Jewelry Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 10-19, 2021
• Address: National Western Center, Denver
• About:  Spend a day strolling through nine miles of tables and booths where 500+ dealers from all over the country come to sell their products and share the beautiful world of geo.

Sundown Colorado

• Date: Sun, September 11, 2021
• Address: RiNo Festival Grounds, Denver
• About: Denver’s first sober music festival that focuses on mindfulness, wellness, and connecting to each other through music.

San Luis Valley Potato Festival

• Date: Sat, September 11, 2021
• Address: Monte Vista
• About: Colorado’s San Luis Valley produces some of the finest potatoes around. Celebrate this starchy root vegetable at the 34th annual SLV Potato Festival.

Lafayette Brew Fest

• Date: Sat, September 11, 2021
• Address: Lafayette
• About: Free to enter brew fest featuring 23 local breweries within 75 miles of Lafayette.

High Peaks Music Festival

• Date: Sat, September 11, 2021
• Address: Westcliffe
• About: 11th annual festival showcasing the Valley’s top musical acts, held at the Feed Store Park and Amphitheater.

Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 11-12, 2021
• Address: Castle Rock
• About: More than 180 international artists ascend on Castle Rock for this 31st annual fine arts fest.

Denver Auto Show

• Date: Wed-Sun, September 15-19, 2021
• Address: Elitch Gardens, Denver
• About: A premier showcase of the newest and hottest models of the year, including both domestic and imported vehicles.

Breckenridge Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, September 16-19, 2021
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: 40th annual festival features a variety of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs, and retrospectives; 70+ films, parties, and forums.

Handmade In Colorado Expo

• Date: September 17-19, 2021
• Address: Skyline Park, Denver
• About: 13th annual art event held over three weekends at three different venues, showcasing various creations from Colorado artists.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 17-19, 2021
• Address: Town Park, Telluride
• About: 27th year, this popular event features world-class blues music and great local food.

Colorfest Balloon Rally

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 17-19, 2021
• Address: Pagosa Springs
• About: 34th anniversary of high flying fun, held annually since 1986. The Passport to Pagosa Food & Wine Fest kicks off the festivities on Friday night with international wine and food pairings.

Parker Oktoberfest

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 17-19, 2021
• Address: O’Brien Park, Parker
• About: 14th annual event with German music, dancers, Biergarten with three Paulaner beers, Miss Oktoberfest contest, and an obstacle course, bungee tramp & a slide for kids.

Lake City Uncorked Wine & Music Festival

• Date: Sat, September 18, 2021
• Address: Lake City
• About: Music and wine festival in one of Colorado’s most picturesque and remote towns.

Steamboat OktoberWest

• Dates: Sat, September 18, 2021
• Address: Steamboat Springs
• About: Over 40 brewers come to Steamboat’s mountain village for this annual Octoberfest. Enjoy craft beer, live music, and a beef cook-off.

​Colorado Mountain Winefest

• Date: Thurs-Sun, September 18-19, 2021
• Address: Riverbend Park, Palisade
• About: Dozens of local wineries attend Colorado’s premier wine festival, now in its 30th season. There are interactive seminars, demos, live entertainment, fantastic food, unlimited wine samples, a commemorative tasting glass, a wine tote, and plenty of vino for sale.

Durango Autumn Arts Festival

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 18-19, 2021
• Address: Downtown Durango
• About: Discover a weekend of arts and crafts on Second Avenue in downtown Durango. Explore the various booths selling their handmade goods among the fall colors.

Bloody Mary Festival

• Date: Sun, September 19, 2021
• Address: EXDO Event Center, Denver
• About: The 5th Annual Bloody Mary Festival is the largest event of its kind, boasting a range of unique and tantalizing Bloody Marys as well as plenty of food and beverages.

Aspen Filmfest

• Date: Tues-Sun, September 21-26, 2021
• Address: Aspen
• About: Aspen Film’s flagship event, the 41st annual Filmfest, showcasing narrative and documentary features, along with international independent films.

Telluride Autumn Classic

• Date: Thur-Sun, September 23-26, 2021
• Address: Telluride
• About: A 4-day mountain event celebrating everything an automobile, motorcycle, and airplane enthusiast could ever dream of.

Chile & Frijoles Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, September 24-26, 2021
• Address: Pueblo
• About: Annual three-day pepper party held the third weekend after Labor Day. Farmers sell more than 50,000 pounds of peppers, including the Mirasol, a native to the Pueblo region.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival 

• Date: Sat-Sun, September 25-26, 2021
• Address: Sloan’s Lake Park, Denver
• About: A premier event celebrating the accomplishments and culture of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community within the state

Loveland Stone Age Fair

• Date: TBD 2021
• Address: Loveland
• About: Sponsored by the Loveland Archaeological Society, the fair features displays of prehistoric artifacts, skills demonstrations, and lectures by archaeologists.

Burning Can

• Date: TBD 2021
• Address: Lyons
• About: 50+ craft breweries who CAN their beer, plus world-class competition in world-class kayaking, dirt jumping, and slacklining.

TEDxBoulder

• Date: TBD 2021
• Address: Boulder
• About: TEDx event held in Boulder at the Chautauqua Auditorium. It features more than a dozen speakers and performers giving inspirational and thought-provoking performances.

Southern Ute Tribal Fair & Powwow

• Date: Canceled for 2021 | TBD 2022
• Address: Sky Ute Fairgrounds, Ignacio
• About: A grand celebration of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio, Colorado. Held since 1920, the excitement of gathering as a tribe and sharing traditions, food, and camaraderie has always been a highlight of each September.

Festivals in October

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering

• Date: Thur-Sun, September 30 – October 3, 2021
• Address: Durango
• About: Celebrate the rich history of the American cowboy, with live performances, poets, and musicians, now in its 32nd year.

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous

• Date: Sat, October 2, 2021
• Address: Riverside Park, Salida
• About: 25th annual beer festival held on the banks of the Arkansas River, featuring more than 75 breweries, 200 beers, and live music.

Handmade In Colorado Expo

• Date: Sat-Sun, October 2-3, 2021
• Address: Central Park, Boulder
• About: 14th annual art event held over three weekends at three different venues showcasing various creations from Colorado artists.

Cheesman Park Art Fest

• Date: Sat-Sun, October 2-3, 2021
• Address: Cheesman Park, Denver
• About: 8th annual art fest invites more than one hundred national, juried artists and craftsmen to showcase their work around Cheesman Park.

Elk Fest

• Date: Sat-Sun, October 2-3, 2021
• Address: Bond Park, Estes Park
• About: Fall festival celebrating the annual elk “rut” in its 22nd year. Events include a Mountain Man Rendezvous, Native American music and dancing, a bugling contest, elk seminars, and exhibits, as well as food and craft vendors. There’s also an elk-viewing bus.

Steers & Beers Whiskey and Beer Festival

• Date: Sat, October 9, 2021
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: 5th annual beer and whiskey festival held at the 4-star Antlers Hotel in downtown COS.

Telluride Horror Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, October 15-17, 2021
• Address: Nugget Theatre, Telluride
• About: The 12th annual 3-day Telluride Horror Show is the state’s spookiest and largest horror film festival boasting plenty of films to scare your pants off.

Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Parade

• Date: TBD October 2021
• Address: Manitou Springs
• About: Starts with a parade through town followed by coffin races. 26th annual, coffin races are teams of four pallbearers and one “Emma”. The races have been covered nationally by the Travel Channel. They are usually held the last Saturday in October, annually since 1995.

Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival

• Date: TBD October 2021
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: For the 10th year enjoy live music, regional liquor, and food. Events include Poker Run, Historic Saloon Walking Tour, Breckenridge Distillery Tours, Honey Gitter’s live show at the historic Gold Pan Saloon, and Hangover Brunch.

​Great American Beer Festival

• Date: Canceled for 2021 | Thur-Sat, October 6-8, 2022
• Address: Convention Center, Denver
• About: Now in its 40th year, GABF is one of the largest beer festivals in the US, with four sessions to choose from, and over 3500 beers.

Knock Your Boots Off Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-Off

• Date: TBD 2021 (possibly canceled forever)
• Address: Golden
• About: Annual chili competition featuring bottomless craft beer and chili tastings.

Wine In The Pines

• Date: Canceled for 2021
• Address: Keystone
• About: Summit County’s premier wine festival is now in its 37th year. Enjoy exquisite wine paired with savory cuisine.

Festivals in November

Denver Film Festival

• Date: Wed-Sun, November 3-14, 2021
• Address: Denver and Colorado Springs
• About: Back for its 44th year, the Denver Film Festival showcases hundreds of full-length films, music videos, and shorts at multiple locations across the city.

Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, November 5-7 & 19-21, 2021
• Address: Denver and Colorado Springs
• About: This Christmas-themed event is held over two weekends, the first of which is at the Denver Mart and the second at the Colorado Springs Event Center. Explore the more than 450 and 250 booths, respectively, of arts, crafts, and gifts from local vendors. Santa will be on-site at both locations, so bring the kids!

Warren Miller Film Tour

• Date: Thursday-Sunday, November 18-22, 2021
• Address: Denver (multiple showings across Colorado)
• About: An annual film tour following skiers and snowboarders and they take on the snow. From backyard hills to mega mountains, this tour kicks off the winter season with a bang!

Denver Christkindl Market

• Date: Friday-Wednesday, November 19-December 23, 2021
• Address: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204
• About: 20th year for the month-long Christkindl Market in downtown Denver. Experience old German tradition with authentic cuisine, live music, holiday drinks, and an artisan marketplace.

All Colorado Beer Festival

• Date: TBD November 2021
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: 13th annual big beer festival that raised $70,000 for charities at a previous year’s event. It features more than 80 Colorado brewers.

Evergreen Winterfest

• Date: TBD November 2021
• Address: Evergreen
• About: Community arts festival showcasing handmade gifts along “Main Street” inside Evergreen High School.

Denver International Wine Festival

• Date: Wed-Fri, November TBD 2021
• Address: Denver Marriott Westminster
• About: 16th annual celebration of international food and wine.

Festivals in December

Denver Christkindl Market

• Date: Friday-Wednesday, November 19-December 23, 2021
• Address: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204
• About: 20th year for the month-long Christkindl Market in downtown Denver. Experience old German tradition with authentic cuisine, live music, holiday drinks, and an artisan marketplace.

Noel Night

• Date: Friday, December 3, 2021
• Address: Durango
• About: The largest shopping night of the year in Durango full of music, treats, decorations, and holiday festivities.

The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas

• Date: Sat, December 4, 2021
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Kick-off December with the family by participating in this holiday event. Watch the town light up as hundreds of Santas run through the streets.

Georgetown Christmas Market

• Date: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5, 2021 and December 11-12, 2021
• Address: 6th Street, Georgetown
• About: 61st annual Christmas Market is held on the first two Saturdays and Sundays in December. Celebrations include an outdoor European marketplace, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, Saint Nicholas, Christmas museum tours, high tea at Grace Hall, wassail crawl, hot roasted chestnuts, and Santa Lucia Children’s Procession.

Dillon Ice Castles

• Date: PENDING – PROBABLY NOT RETURNING FOR THE 2021-22 WINTER SEASON
• Address: Dillon Town Park, 120 Buffalo Street, Dillon
• About: Professional ice artists create dazzling displays every winter in Dillon. It’s lit up at night for a spectacular attraction in popular Summit County. It’s held all winter long, cold weather pending.

Ullr Fest

• Date: Wed-Sat, December 8-17, 2021
• Address: Breckenridge
• About: Festival celebrating the winter god of Norse mythology, now in its 58th year. Shenanigans include frying pans, Viking hats, “Ullympic” competitions and a floats parade.

​Vail Snow Days

• Date: Thursday-Sunday, December 2-5, 2021
• Address: Vail
• About: Vail Snow Days kickoffs their 15th winter season at Vail, featuring live concerts from top performers.

Thanks for checking out some of the great fall festivals in Colorado! Enjoy the good times and the changing of seasons.